I will be doing polls in my blog and also on the Notary Forum page every once in a while on your knowledge of what exactly a notary is and does. When I close the poll, I will post the correct answer(s) and open it up to any questions or comments anyone may have.

So.....you are ready to open the doors.  You've painted the walls, stocked your inventory, hired your employees, and put up your signs.  Now.....you need customers.

"But all of our friends and family know we're opening, isnt that enough?"

Out of all the ways to advertise and promote your business, a website will be your most loyal advocator.  A website speaks to your customers both present and potential.  It tells them things they want to know and most importantly, it tells them why they are going to be your customers. While friends and family are very important in promoting your business, adding a website to your business plan is going to benefit you beyond word of mouth therefore increasing your visibility to its highest potential.  And thats what you want, right?

Yes, you NEED a website.

"One page, three pages or many?" you ask......
The beauty of doing a website, especially one you maintain is, you can start it as small as you like and build up from there.  The important part isnt how big your website is to begin with, the important part is you get online and start talking to your customers.
Who, What, Where and Why~These are the elements you want to have on a website.

• Who are you?
  
• What are your hours?
  
• What are your specials?
• How do I get there?

Just about everyone goes online and does a search for whatever they are looking for before they turn the key in their car.  The convenience of searching before you go has increased tremendously and 98% of that audience searching will go to the place that has a website detailing the information they are looking for.

Weebly offers a wide variety of free, easy to use templates.  With many templates to choose from, you will find the right one for you.  (Hint: This is a Weebly website with some customizing done by me.)

                              Ready to get started, click Link Below:

Dont have the time to invest in creating your website? Contact me here, for a direct email link or visit my contact page and fill out the submission form detailing what you need help with.  Dont forget to leave your phone number so I can contact you.
I enjoy working on websites and would be happy to help.  

I want to share a scam email that I received on a Mystery Shopping Opportunity.  For this particular scam, the person soliciting you will say that the funds will be provided to you to complete the Mystery Shopping job.....THIS IS A SCAM FOLKS~
I actually met a lady who was unfortunate enough to fall for this.  What the scammers do is send you money orders that seem to be legit through a mailing service, their instructions will tell you the Mystery Shopping job is for a Western Union and you are to cash the money orders through your bank and then send the money through Western Union.  The only problem is, the checks are fake and by the time your bank figures this out, the money is gone and you are responsible to your bank for the bad money orders.  The money orders cannot be traced.
Here is the email I received that is a SCAM~
Hello,
We are accepting applications for qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers. It's fun and rewarding.There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need previous experience and you would be paid $200 for every duty you carryout,
JOB DESCRIPTION:
1. You will receive funding for the assignment.
2. You will receive the Instruction for your assignment via email on the location and details of the assignment.
3. You are to complete the assignment as fast and discreetly as possible.
4. You will be asked to visit a business location to conduct business be it a restaurant, shopping store etc.
PAYMENT TERMS:
You will receive a flat sum of $200 per assignment. The company will furnish you with all expense needed for the assignment and any other expense incurred during the course of executing your assignment.
Note: You are to follow all instructions given to you to the fullest. KINDLY SEND YOUR INFORMATION BELOW TO PROCEED ON FIRST ASSIGNMENT TO 
Your Full Name:
Your Address (NOT P.O Box): 
City, State:
Occupation:
Phone Number:
AGE:
Regards .
James Smith
Secret Shopper®
A couple of clues that it is a scam, first, Mystery Shopping jobs dont pay that much, second, a company will not contact you out of the blue especially through email nor will they ask for your information.  Mystery Shopping jobs are real, but the usual protocol to do these jobs is for you to initiate a relationship with the company and get entered into their vendor database.  Be diligent and do your homework so you are not the next victim to these scams.

What I hope to achieve is a little bit of education to the public and others on Wisconsin Notary Law and Procedure.  I have been a Wisconsin Notary for over 6 years and take great pride in knowing the law.  I feel it is important as I am commissioned by the State of Wisconsin to be a public official.  There are responsibilities that a Notary needs to know in order to effectively perform their duties.  

Lets start with what is a Wisconsin Notary? Quoted from our Notary Pamphlet
"A notary public is an individual issued an appointment by the Governor or Department of 
Financial Institutions to serve the public as an impartial witness, performing notarial acts as are allowed or required by law"

Notarial Acts for the Wisconsin Notary are:

• Taking an Acknowledgment
  
• Administering an Oath or Affirmation
• Taking a Verification upon Oath or Affirmation
• Witnessing or Attesting a Signature
• Certifying or Attesting a copy of a document or other item
• Noting a protest of a Negotiable Instrument

Parts of the Notary Act are:

• The person who is having their signature notarized MUST appear in front of the Notary
• Positively ID the person who is having their signature Notarized
• Determine the person signing the document is signing of their own free will and signing the document for the purposes contained within the document.  For a Sworn Document, the person swears or affirms the contents of the document are correct or true which is by the Notary administering an Oath or Affirmation and the person confirms with a Yes or No 
• The Notary then completes the Notary Act with a Notarial Certificate with the correct verbiage for the act performed

My notes: In the State of Wisconsin, we are not required to keep a Notary Journal although it is recommended.  A Notary Journal is a record of all Notarial Events that a Notary performs.  I do keep one as I do many Notarizations and feel it is important should the Notarization ever become a legal issue.

To positively identify someone, the Identification Document should not be expired, should be readable, with a picture of the person, birth-date, and a signature. 

Identification Documents I use are:

• State Drivers License
• State Identification Card
• Passport
• Current Military ID

It is a necessary component to a Notarial Act.

The Notarial Certificate is the attestation of the Notarys Act that has been performed.  This attestation is prima facia evidence in a court of law.

Our Wisconsin Notary Brochure dictates:

Statute 706.07(7) Certificate of Notarial Acts

(a)A Notarial Act must be evidenced by a certificate signed and dated by a Notarial Officer.  A certificate of a Notarial Act is sufficient if it meets these requirements: 1.  Identification of the jurisdiction in which the Notarial Act is performed(the venue)  2.  Title of the office of the Notarial Officer 3. May include the official stamp or seal of office 4.  If the officer is a Notary Public the certificate must also indicate the date of expiration  5.  Sets forth the actions of the Notarial Officer and these are sufficient to meet the requirements of the designated Notarial Act

My Notes: To merely put your seal and signature on a document as evidence of a Notarial Act is not proper or professional procedure for a Notary Act.  The official act of the Notarization should be evidenced within the Notarial Certificate and is equally important as signing and stamping the document that requires the Notarization. 

If you are a Notary for the State of Wisconsin and have questions on Notarial Procedure, please call our Department of Financial Institutions.  They are very helpful and want all Notaries from the State of Wisconsin to perform their position as an Officer of the State correctly.

For Notary Certificate Sample Statements, visit my Links Page.

The Department of Financial Institutions is now in charge of the Notary Public's of Wisconsin.  You can go here for Notary Public Information online: Notary Public 
Phone:
Customer Service: (608) 266-8915
Mailing Address:
Department of Financial Institutions
345 W Washington Ave, 3rd Floor
PO Box 7847
Madison WI 53707

What is a Notary Signing Agent (NSA) Network?

An NSA Network is simply a group of independent NSA's that pool their marketing efforts, and promote the whole Network rather than simply promoting themselves, individually.  This increases the exposure of each Network member exponentially!  Every time a member presents their own information to a client, they include information about the Network.

One of the more well-known and perhaps one of the first NSA Networks was the birth child of Brenda Stone.  Her Texas NSA Network (and her generosity in sharing ideas and information) paved the way for the many other state networks that followed.

What Rules or Guidelines Do NSA Networks Follow?

Most NSA Networks are informally structured, not formally structured (as in a business entity or corporation, for example).  They're generally formed by a small handful of independent NSA's who decide to put a Network together - and they will then establish their own specific criteria as to whom they will invite and/or accept into their group.

Since one of the distinct advantages of belonging to a Network is the marketability of that group as ‘hand-selected professionals', most network founders establish a pretty rigid set of criteria for the membership.  This will include their own established guidelines for experience levels, required certifications or number of signings, and will also cover such things as what behaviors or ethical practices must be adhered to.

Most of these Network groups ban the practice of charging any type of fee when referring business to another member - which is another added value that is used to market the networks to potential clients.  The number of members within any particular area is generally limited (to prevent over-saturation), but includes enough members to ensure to the client that they will always have someone to suit their needs.

Why Use an NSA Network?

First - Ease of Use, coupled with pre-screened NSA's.  The Networks market by providing access to their membership's contact information (sometimes a printed roster, perhaps via a website, etc) and high-light the efforts that went into scrutinizing their credentials and/or expertise.

Second - The Bottom Line.  Contracting an NSA directly and by-passing any third-party service is cheaper.  Rather than paying someone else to select the NSA, it is generally considerably less costly to directly select them yourself.

Third - Working directly with the NSA will help to eliminate the headaches of miscommunication, and gives everyone direct & immediate contact with a person who's been verified to be highly professional.  As we all know, the closing procedure is often fraught with such last minute needs for critical communication!

More Added Values to Using an NSA Network:

Network members work together, are in continual contact with each other and usually have periodic meetings to discuss current industry issues & changes.  They are a combined unit having the same goal to provide the best possible services to their clients.

Because of the careful selection of the members, if one cannot complete the signing, they will confidently refer you to another member who upholds the same standards of professionalism.

What NSA Networks Don't Do:

There is generally no referral fees allowed between the members.  They simply refer each other as a part of the commitment to the Network. Each individual member of a NSA Network is responsible for setting their own fees, are each contacted directly and hired directly by the clients.

Networks do not tolerate unethical or unprofessional behavior, and have their own set guidelines for resolving such issues.  In an NSA Network, one member's actions are a reflection of the entire Network as a whole, and the absolute highest of standards is critical to their success.

Interested in Knowing More?  
Visit Here: The National NSA Network

From the Office of the Secretary of State for Wisconsin 

CONSUMER ALERT: Online Notarization Services Are NOT legal in Wisconsin.

Online webcam notarization is invalid and illegal in the State of Wisconsin.  A private company claims to have the first online notarization website and has sent misleading information and made false claims to Wisconsin Notaries Public concerning a new online notarization service. The web-based platform purports to allow a person to submit copies of identification over the Internet and to use a webcam in lieu of a personal appearance in front of a Notary Public. Appearance via webcam does not meet the requirements for notarization in Wisconsin.
Please be aware that a notary applicant does not need to "join" a notary association in order to become a notary public in Wisconsin. Additionally, a renewing notary does not need to buy a new stamp every four years, unless the current seal or stamp is worn out. If a company offers a notary stamp along with the bond, and the applicant doesn't need a new stamp, the applicant may wish to consider other insurance companies.

Wisconsin Notaries Public are authorized under current law to perform notarizations as long as all the requirements for the act are met, including the use of a seal. Wisconsin law requires a person to appear personally before a Notary Public to obtain notarial acts. This means the party must be physically present before the Notary Public. A video image or other form of non-physical representation is not a personal appearance in front of a Notary Public under current state or federal laws. The technology solution offered by this private company does not comply with Wisconsin law.

Welcome~To Central Wisconsin Notary Blog

Welcome to my blog!  The main objective will be to keep you informed and up to date on notarial issues.  I will also blog from time to time about local events or happenings in the Central Wiscosnin Area.  And just to add some color (I love color!), the blogs may be about something totally funny, ridiculous, or even entertaining.  Stay tuned, you never know what you may read here.  PS: I will keep it clean folks.